Answer to Question #164218 in Optics for Nidg

Question

State the principle of superposition of waves. 

How is this principle observed in the formation of maxima and minima of a typical diffraction pattern

Answer 1

The principle of superposition of waves states that, as two or more waves cross at a point, the displacement at that point is proportional to the number of the displacements of each wave.

Since superposition is a mixture of waves in the same place, at the points where the crest and trough of superposed waves intersect together, the two waves cancel out each other forming interference minima while at a point where two crests or troughs meet, they strengthen each other leading to the formation of interference maxima.